Fish-dressing machine



E; H. .WAUGH;

FISH DRESSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILIEDVNOV. I0. l9l9.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

a won 0'15 Edward 11. Z faa h E. H. WAUGH, FISH DRESSING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED NOV. 101I9I9.

Patnid J 2111.

v 11,1921. fSHEFTS-SHEEI 2- \N km a E. H. WAUGH.

FISH DRESSING'MACHINE.

APPLICATION rg uzo NOV. lo. 1919.

Patented Jan. 11,

1921. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

'3" ueutoz Edward 12. Waugh E. H. WAUGH. FISH DRESSING MACHINE. APPucAUoN FILED INOVVIO, 1919.

Patented Jan. 11,1921.

4' SHEETS-SHEET a.

\ Ediard Hwau h UNITED" shrines PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD H. WAU'GI-I, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH CANNERY MACHINES C0., 01 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

FISH-DRESSING MAGHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. WAUGH, a citizen of theUnited-States, and resident of the city of Seattle, county of King, and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fish- Dressing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fish dressing machines and consists of a device which is intended to remove the heads of the fish, slit them lengthwise, remove theentrails and a section of the back bone.

The particular type ofwork for which it is intended is the preparation of all fish such as the cod, which are dressed and then salted or dried.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine which will satisfactorily do this work, and thus avoid the necessity of such an amount of hand labor in doing this work.

T he construction of a machine in accordance with my invention will first be described, and the parts thereof which I believe to he new and upon which I desire a patent, will then he defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention embodied in the form of construction which is now preferred ;y me.

Figure l is a side view of a machine in which my invention has beenincorporated.

Fig. 2 is a side view ot'a portion-of the same machine on a larger scale, and with parts thereof in section.

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of novel features of this machine in which the'central portion of the frame has been broken away in order to make the other parts of such size as to show them satisfactorily.

Fig. i is a view, which is partly diagrammatic, showing in side elevation the hach-honeremoving device and the means for operating the same. T

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken through the means employed for adjusting the cam which the back bone removing device is thrown into and out of action.

Fig. 6 is a sectiontaken on the line 6-6 of 2 showing the position of the back bone removing device when in use.

Fig. 7 is an outer or plan view of the separator and the spreader or entrail plow.

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections, taken respectively on the lines 88- and 99 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 isa detail view of the constructionglven to the yoke through which the back bone removing cutter is actuated whereby it is given a resilient or yielding character. The type of construction adopted in this machine closely resembles in certain of its general features, that employed in the ma.-

.chine illustrated in the patent to E. A.

Smith No. 998,129 of July 18, 1911. In the present machine, two bull rings 1 are employed which, in their general features and manner of employmenfivery closely resemhle the same rings shown in the said patent. The manner of removing the heads from the fish is also the same as shown in said patcut, as is also the manner of securing and holding the fish to the-hull ring while being operated upon. It is therefore thought unnecessary to herein describe in detail these constructions which are held in the art as shown by the said patent. It will sufiice to say that the fish, after being beheaded, are secured to the outer surface of the bull rings 1, in the groove formed between them, with their backs to these rings.

T he bull rings 1 employed in the present machine vary slightly in construction from those shown in said patent to Smith, the principal feature of difference being that the outer corners of the ring, at the sides which are adjacent each to the other, are rounded, as shown at 10 in Fig. 3. This rounding is designed to be of such size and shape as to accommodate the principal part of the body of the fish, that which includes the back bone, whilethe flanks or side sections of the fish may he laid out against the outer face of the rings as is shown in Fig. 6.

The-first step in the operation of the dressing of the fish, consists inthe removal of the head. Thisis done by the mechanism shown at B, which mechanism is however, the same as shown in the Smith patent referred to. The tailend ofthe fish as thus beheaded, is then inserted in the space between the two bull rings. The tail end is then automatically impaled upon a pin 11,

is swung into the channel between the two bull rings, and is then impaled by the supplemental holding needles or )ins 15, after the manner employed in said limith patent. The position of the fish when secured upon the bull ring is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Secured upon the upper part of the frame 2, is a sleeve 3, which sleeve is mounted to swing upon a shaft 30, which shaft rotates and serves as a part of the driving mechanism for the slitter saw. Within the sleeve 3 is a shaft 81, which shaft is connected with the shaft 30 by means of beveled gears 32. This shaft 31, through beveled gears 33, at

the opposite end thereof, drives a transversely extending shaft 3 f, to which the slitxter saw 35 is secured. This construction is transversely extending web, or flange, 41, which forms the presser member. The

lower or inner edge of the vertical plate 40,

may also serve, to a certain extent, as a presser. The forward end of this member 4, is turned upward and secured to a member 42, which is pivoted upon the shaft 34 of the slitter saw. It is therefore capable of a certain amount of oscillating and rocking movement about the center of the saw.

This separator and presser member preferably extends to a point rearwardly of the slitter saw. At this point it is pivotally connected by a pin 50 with the entrail removrng plow or scraper 5. tion of this pivot point is largely a matter The exact locaof choice. This plow has at its forward end, a vertical web 51. This web divioes into two parts which diverge rearwardly, so as to act as a plow to scrape the entrails toward each side and remove them from the fish. These side wings 52, have a slightly outward flat toward their upper edge, as

shown in Figs. 8 and 9. As these side walls diverge, a bottom wall 53 is provided,

which serves to connect the lower edges of the side walls 52. The shape of this bottom :wall 53, is preferably made so as to bear somewhat upon the body of the fish and might be made to conform'to the shape of the fish as it is spread out.

This spreader, in addition to its function of removing the entrails, also acts to spread the flanks of the fish out into a flat position similar to that shown in Fig. 6. It is held down in a ylelding manner, both .by its weight and by means of a spring 54,, which surrounds a guide rod 55 of which one end is pivotally secured to the spreader 5, and the other end is mounted to slide loosely through a guide bar 56 which is supported from the frame, as through the means of a pair of curved bars 20 which extend over the upper portion of the frame. The means employed for holding down the spreader and entrail plow may be varied as desired, in any manner found suitable. It is desirable that it be held in a yielding manner, so that it will properly act upon fish which vary in size.

Positioned to act upon the fish after they have passed this plow and spreader, are scraping devices which have herein been illustrated by means of the blocks 6, which blocks are yieldingly supported, as by means of links 60, and a spring 61, which holds them in a yielding manner down upon the fish, and yet permits whatever movement may be necessary to accommodate fish of different thickness. The acting faces of these blocks are provided with grooves or ribs as shown at 62. These preferably being placed in an angular position, so as to force whatever is removed, toward the side edges and to discharge the same. I have shown two such plates employed. Their movement may be made whatever is found necessary and any other type of cleaning mean found more suitable may be employed as a substitute therefor.

In the preparation of cod fish for the market, the common practice is to remove the or portion of the back bone. 1 have therefore provided a device for securing this result. This device is placed to act upon the fish after it has been cleaned, as by the means which have been described. This device employs a rotative cutter, so carried and operated, that it engages with the back bone of the fish to remove the same at predetermined parts of the fish. It does not remove the back bone from the part of the fish which is closely adjacent to the tail, though this might be done by suitable adjustment of the device, if such result were desired. The type of cutter which I prefer to use is a tubular cutter having the cutting edges upon the end thereof. Said cutting edges would preferably be made of toothed character.

Toward the rear side of the bull ring or following after the chief cleaning parts, is mounted a sleeve 7 which forms part of the carrying frame of this device. This frame is pivotally supported, so as to swing in a vertical plane which conforms to the central plane of the bull rings. Mounted to turn in this sleeve is a sleeve 70, upon the forward.

end of which is secured the cutting tube 71. These parts are made of such a size, andso placed that when swung downward so as to bring the cutting tube toward the fish, said cuttin tube will engage the surface of the fish. TWeans are employed for giving the sleeve and the cutter 71 carried thereby, a rotative movement, so that a strip of the fish which includes the back bone is cut out, the sleeve 7 0 having an unobstructed through opening. This back bone strip may be discharged at the rear end thereof.

To prevent entrance of the cutter too deep into the body of the fish, I employ a presser associated therewith which engages with the body of the fish. As herein illustrated this presser consists of a wheel 72, which is mounted in an arm 7 3, which arm is pivoted at the point 74 in lu s 7 1' which are secured to, or form a part 0 the carrier frame 7, in which the sleeve 70 is journaled. Means are provided for adjusting the position of this arm and, therefore, the position of the presser 72. Such means, as illustratechemploy a bolt 75 which is pivoted at 76, upon the frame body 7 and a nut 77 which is secured to a wheel 78, by which it is turned, which nut acts upon a yoke 79 pivotally supported in the bifurcated rear end of the arm 73. By this means the position of the presser 72 relative to the cutter may be accurately adjusted.

The cutter carrying sleeve 70, is rotated through the means of beveled gears 65, a transverse sleeve 66 and other beveled gears 67 which connect this transverse shaft with a shaft 67 which extends alongside of the machine. The means for turning this may be anything found suitable and, in a specific way, form no part of my present invention.

The frame body 7 upon which the cutter is mounted, is provided with an arm 76, which cooperates with a pin 78 carried by a fixed part of the frame as by the bracket 21, thus acting as a limit stop to prevent the cutter 71 swinging far enough to engage the bull rings. The arm 76 is shown as having a slot 77 which embraces the pin 78.

I have provided means whereby the cutter 71 may be raised and lowered, so as to apply the same to a determined position of the body of the fish. In doing this I have provided an arm 8 which is secured to the frame body 7 through shaft'66 and connect this, through the means of a rod 80, with an automatic mechanism which is operated by and timed with relation to the rotation of the bull rings. The bull rings are each provided with gear teeth, as 12, with which teeth engage pinions 13, carried by shaft 14, and mounted upon this shaft 14 is a cam disk 15. This disk has a cam groove 16, in which is placed a cam roller 17, secured to the arm or lever 18 pivoted at 18'. the swinging end of which lever is connected with the rod 80.

The dimensions of the pinions 13 and the gears 12 are so adjusted that there are as many revolutions of the pinion 13 as there are places for securing fish to the bull ring.

In consequence, the pinions 13 turn once for the passage of each fish past the operating mechanism. In consequence, if the cam disk 15 be properly adjusted, it will cause the cutter 71 to swing toward and from the bull ring so as to first contact with the fish at a definite distance from its tail. If means be provided for adjusting this point of contact forward or back, the application of the cutter to the fish may be varied in the length thereof.

In order to secure this adjustable feature the following construction has been employed. The cam disk 15 is not directly and immovably secured to the shaft 1 1. This disk 15 is provided with a hub 19, and this hub is provided with a groove 26 in which slides a key 25 carried by a sleeve 27, which sleeve is mounted for reciprocation lengthwise of the shaft and is secured so as to turn with the shaft. The rotative connection between the sleeve 27 and the shaft 14:, consists of a helically placed key and groove as 28 so that by reciprocating the sleeve 27 the angular position of the cam disk 15 is adjusted. This shifting of the disk 27 is secured by providing the outer or projecting end of this sleeve with a series of teeth 84 which are, however, not helical, but consist of circular ribs and meshing with this are the teeth of the pinion 85 which is mounted upon a shaft 81, and which may be turned, as by a crank 82. By turning the shaft 81 and the pinion 85 carried thereby, the sleeve 27 may be re ciprocated upon the shaft 4 and within the hub 19 of the cam disk, and thereby changing the position of the said cam disk and the point at which the back-bone-ren1oving cutter 71 is first applied to the fish.

The arm 8 is secured to rod so as to have a limited relative and resilient movement. The construction illustrated in Fig. 10, is given as a preferred means. A yoke 90 lies within the jaws of a larger yoke 9. The jaws of yoke 9 have a slot 91 and the jaws of yoke 90 have holes for the pivot pin 92. Between the yokes 9 and 90, about the stem of the yoke 90, is a compression spring 93 which will yield if the fish is a large or thick one. The application of the cutter 7 is therefore automatically controlled.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, and a rotative cutter form to cut and remove a strip from the fish.

2. A fish dressing machine comprising .a fish carrier and a rotative tubular cutter adapted to remove a strip from the fish.

3. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier and a rotative tubular cutter placed at an angle to the path of movement of the fish and adapted to engage the fish to remove a strip therefrom.

4. A fish dressing machine'comprising-a fish carrier, and a rotative cylindrical cutter adapted to remove a strip from the fish and a depth-controlling presser engaging the fish.

5. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, and a rotative cylindrical cutter adapted to remove a strip from the fish and a presser having controlling connection with the cutter.

6. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, and a rotative cylindrical cutter adapted to remove a strip from the fish, a presser having controlling connection with the cutter and means for adjusting the presser relative to the cutter.

7. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, and a rotative cylindrical cutter adapted to remove a strip from the fish, and a presser located to contact with the fish in advance of the cutter and having controlling connection with the cutter.

8. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, a rotative tubular body having a tubular cutter on one end thereof, a pivotal support therefor permitting swinging of the cutter toward and from the fish, and means 'for turning said tubular body.

9. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, means for slitting the fish and removing the entrails, and independent means for removing the backbone from the fish.

10. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, means for slitting the fish and removing the entrails, a rotative cutter adapted to engage the fish to remove its backbone.

11. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, means for slitting the fish and removing the entrails, a rotative cutter adapted to remove the backbone from the fish in passing and means for automatically applying said cutter tothe fish in passing.

12. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, means for slitting the fish and removing the entrails, a rotative cutter mounted to move toward and from the carrier and means for automatically applying said cutter to remove a strip from a determined part of the fish in passin 13. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier. means for slitting the fish and removing the entrails, a rotatively mounted tubular cutter positioned to engage and remove a strip from the fish in passing.

14. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, means for slitting the fish and removing the entrails, a rotatively mounted tubular cutter positioned to engage and remove a strip from the fish in passing, and means for automatically controlling the depth of action of said cutter. p

15. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier. means for slitting the fish and removing the entrails, a rotatively mounted tubular cutter positioned to engage and'remove a strip from the fishin passing, and a presser actuated by contact with the fish to control the depth of cut of said cutter.

16. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, means for slitting the fish and removing the entrails, a rotatively mounted tubular cutter positioned to engage and remove a strip from the fish in passing, and a presser engaging the fish in advance of the cutter to control the depth of actionof the cutter. I

17. A fish dressing machine comprising a fish carrier, means for slitting the fish and removing the entrails, a rotatively mounted tubular cutter, a cutter carrier pivotally mounted to move the cutter toward and from the fish, a presser carried by an arm, said arm being pivoted upon the cutter carrier, and means for adjusting said arm rela: tive to the cutter.

I 18. In a fish dressing machine, a carrier, a rotative cutter adapted to engage the fish to remove the backbone, and means for automatically engaging said cutter with a determined portion of the fish in passing.

19. In a fish dressing machine, a carrier, a rotative cutter adapted to engage the fish to remove the backbone. and means for automatically engaging said cutter with a determined portion of the fish in passing, and

a presser engaging the fish to control the depth of cut.

20. In a fish dressing machine, a carrier, a rotative cutter adapted to engage the fish to remove the backbone, and means for automatically engaging said cutter with a determined portion of the fish in passing, and

means for varying the time of application of said cutter.

21. In a fish dressing machine. a carrier, a cutter, a cutter carrying frame mounted to be moved toward and from the fish, a presser engaging the fish to limit the depth of cut, and a stop limiting the movement of the cutter toward the fish;

22. In a fish dressing machine, a carrier, a cutter mounted to move toward and from the fish and adapted to remove the backbone,

and a fixed stop limiting the inward movement of the cutter. I

23. In a fish dressing'machine, a fish carrier, a rotatively mounted cutter, a cutter carrying frame pivoted to swing the cutter toward and from the fish, and a stop limiting the swing of the cutter carrier toward the fish.

24. In a fish dressing machine, a fish carrier, a slitter, a separator having a web entering the cut made by the slitter, and an entrail remover hinged to the rear end of the slitter and having rearwardly diverging scraper sides.

25. In a fish dressing machine. a fish carrier, a slitter, a separator having a web entering the cut made by the slitter and a flange extending laterally over the sides of the fish, and an entrail remover and spreader secured to the rear end of the separator and having scraping edges.

26. In a fish dressing machine, a fish carrier, a slitter, a separator having a web entering the cut made by the slitter and a flange extending laterally over the side of the fish, and an entrail remover and spreader pivoted to the rear end of the separator.

27. In a fish dressing machine, a fish carrier, a slitter, a separator having a web entering the cut made by the slitter and a flange extending laterally over the sides of the fish, and an entrail remover and spreader pivoted to the rear end of the separator and having rearwardly diverging side walls.

28. In a fish dressing machine, a fish carrier, a slitter, a separator having a web entering the cut made by the slitter and a flange extending laterally over the sides of the fish, an entrail remover and spreader pivoted to the rear end of the separator and having rearwardly diverging side walls, and a yielding means acting to hold the entrail remover down upon the fish.

29. In a fish dressing machine, a fish carrier, a slitter, a slitter carrying frame mounted to move toward and from the carrier, a separator having flanges entering the cut made by the slitter and presser flanges, said separator being secured to move with the slitter and extending to the rear thereof, and an entrail plow and spreader located to the rear of the separator and having rearwardly diverging side faces which come together at its forward end.

30. In a fish dressing machine, a fish carrier, a slitter, a slitter carrying frame mounted to move toward and from the carrier, a separator having flanges entering the out made by the slitter and presser flanges, said separator being secured to move with the slitter, and an entrail plow and spreader having a central web alined with and pivoted to the rear end of the spreader.

31. In a fish dressing machine, a fish carrier, a slitter, a slitter carrying frame mounted to move toward and from the carrier, a separator having flanges at each side of the slitter and pivoted upon. the slitter frame, and presser flanges extending laterally therefrom.

33. In a fish dressing machine, a fish carrier, a cutter movable into and out of engagement with the fish, a cam controlling the position of the cutter and means for adjusting the angular position of the cam to thereby advance and retard the time of action of said cutter.

3a. In a fish dressing machine, a member adapted to be periodically engaged with and disengaged from the fish, a cam controlling the time of engagement and disengagement of said member, and means for angular adjustment of the cam about its rotative axis to advance and retard its period of action.

35. In a fish dressing machine, a cutter adapted to move into and out of engagement with the fish, a cam connected with the cutter to control its position, a shaft upon which the cam is mounted, and a sleeve interposed between the cam and shaft and having a longitudinally sliding movement on each, and keyways rotatively connecting the sleeve with shaft and cam, one of said keyways extending helically, and means for shifting said sleeve.

36. In a fish dressing machine a carrier, a cutter movable toward and from the fish in passing, a rotative shaft, a cam and connections therefrom to the cutter to control its position, a sleeve interposed between said cam and shaft, said sleeve having key-and slot rotative engagement with the shaft and cam, the slot in one of the said parts having a helical direction.

37. In a fish dressing machine a carrier, a cutter movable toward and from the fish in passing, a rotative shaft, a cam and connections therefrom to the cutter to control its position, a sleeve interposed between said cam and shaft, said'sleeve having key-andslot rotative engagement with the shaft and cam, the slot in one of the said parts having a helical direction, said sleeve also having a projecting end exteriorly toothed-to form a cylindrical rack, and a controlling pinion meshing with said rack.

38. In a fish dressing machine, a cutter adapted to remove a strip from the fish in passing, a depth controlling presser engaging the fish and means for adjusting the relative position of the presser and cutter.

Signed at Seattle, WVashington, this 30th day of Oct. 1919.

- EDWARD H. WAUGH. 

